GLOVED GLADIATORS

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 72, 27 April 1929, Page 13

GLOVED GLADIATORS

LECKIE 'AND PURDY WIN. ' LECKIE'S NEXT OPPONENT

CNotee by "Uppercufc.")

How many New Zealand boxing fans were liatening at thg end of a loudspeaker last Saturday niglit? Tliere niust liave been thousands and their natural pride in the Doininiou and its boxers niust have considerably swelled at the end of their long listen. It was worth it tliough, i'or trom Sydnev was being broadea^t a description of the eontest between Charlie Purdy and the -Ameriean craek, Bobby La Sallo. "When tiiis liiii-Jiod Ihe dials were twisted and Melbourne boomed ont with a descriplion oi th© last few xounds of tlie bout between Johnnie Leeki© and tlie second stving of the imjjorted Amoricans, Claude Wilson. In botli cases Xew Zealand canie out on top. * * * purdy, has busy time. Judging by tlie description, Purdy harl a prettv liard tmie to get away with his, but probably on aceount of the faet tliat tlie Sydney announcer was an Ainerican himself. it js not unlikely tliat he gave liis listeneis more than a fair thnre oi tlie Ameriean boxer's work. At any rate, judging by liis description, Purdy was in a fair way to taking a sleep over the last few rounds. At the same tinie, the announcer freely admittod tliat tlie lad frora the Dominion was ahead on points and was likely to reniain so unless knocked out. * * * out of the ring. On hearing tliis deelaration one breathed more freely, i'or not yet has Purdy been knocked to slcep, although he was knocked out of the ring more than once 011 Saturday liiglit. :Js great news. It was great liews to learn tliat Purdy liad won, but oue fel t even niore'elated over the success of Johnnie Leckie. According to the eabled result this was reallv a close eontest, but according to the announcer it was not as close as all tliat. This gentleman, wlio from liis dcscription, appcared lo know more about tlie game tlian tlie average l'an, cxpressed the opinion in the 13th round tliat Leckie only had to stand up to win, and he did not anticipate the pos.sibility of liis getting outed. lle gave Leckie tlie greatest prai-e tlirougliout and at tlie fi nisli contended tliat Leckie had won ten rounds. Wilson tliree, with two even. This certainly docs not suggest a close ron-j test, altliought in actual points it niight easily have been so. # ❖ leckie as a sport. Leckie made a great impression in Sydney against Grime. He has probaiilv enhanced this impression with Meibourne fans, on aceount of liis action in the sixtli round. Tlirougliout, Wilson was inolined to shoot a bit low and in the sixtli he liurt Leckie with one well down. The eontest was at once stopped, and had he wished, Leckie could have been declared tlie winner tliere aiul tlien, but he deeided to "tarry ou" and give the audience value i'or their monoy. As it turned out it was better it happened so, for a win by a foul is nevor satisfaclory and now Leckie lias left no room for doubt. * his next opponent. Leckie is ihe goods all right. He has proved himself and tlie onlv regret that Australian lans have is tliat

La Barba did not stay to try hira out. Tliere is a growing feeling that Leckie would have beaten the great Ameriean, but he is gone and now fans ara looking forward to Leckie's next outiug. Jiis opponent lias not been selected, but the Sydnev Sladium antlioribies and the fans aiike are hoping that it will be Jack Roberts, ihe boxer wlio accounted I'or "Kid" Jolinson iu one j round on 1w> suecossive occasions, and then finislicd otf b.v puttiug Willie I Smitli out in five — a feat which took La Barba a dozen rounds to do. * * * a question of weight. "Whother Roberts will be next, however, depends on Leckie. ltoberts, it musb not be forgotten, is a light weiglit, wlio made 9.3 to meet Willie Smitli. At this weiglit Leckie will be givmg away abont seven i pounds, and goocl as he is, is is qnestionable whetlier he can do it. If Roberts didn't puncli so liard it would be a difierent matter, but as it is now oue can picture Leckie demanding a bigger rcduction in weiglit. Tliis is reasonable, too, for if Roberts could make 9.3 and still liave kiek enough to out Smitli in five rounds, he should be able ro get down further 'still and be well witliin tlie safety 1 /.oue. | ^ \a risky business. j At tlie same tinie. taking off weiglit j is a risky business and has ruined | many a good boxer, and Roberts mav : prefer 1o stay "as you wero." j On tliis weiglit question iieitlier of tlie boxers can be blamed. Wliv should Leckie go out of liis class, and by tlie same tokcn, why should Roberts take big risks to get .down to Leckie's class. It will be a pity if tliey don't meet, but tliere it is. will purdy get it? Failing to make terms lietween Leckie and Roberts. it looks as if the Stadium people will trv to bring Roberts and Purdy together, possibly for the ligfytweight ehamjiionsliip. This would be a great scrap. but Roberts and Leckie would be a better draw. artie hay's Artie Hay bas been rock of tlie walk j in tlie weiter cla^s for a long time now, but when opportuni'y ollerod he was alwavs rcady to risk losing his title to aiiyone good enougli to take it from him. He has now deeided to give Jack Paul a. cliantc, and the eontest will probably take place in Dunedin next nionth. Paul will be a tough prcpositioii, but he could not beat Trowern as easily as Hay did wlien they met, so unless be lias been upset in any way by liis long lay-off, Hay should s-ill be able to sign cliampion to liis narne. getting in early. G, Leslie, the Aucklander, wlio lias now turned professional, is claiming tlie Dominion's lightweiglit title, in tlie absence of Cliarlie Purdy. A strange clairn tliis is, wlien it is remembered that Leslie has not yet had even oue professional eontest. Tlie Dominion is suffering from a dearth of lightweights just now, but even so. it is not likely tliat tlie Xew Zealand Council will give Leslie tlie title. Tommy Donovan has a far better claim, and in any case it is up to Leslie to at least have a eontest before he tries to hiko off with the tdle.